“When we began our work on fast charging, we started to see all these issues, like lithium plating.” In evaluating extreme fast charging, the INL team ran into challenges with what was going on inside the batteries, said Tanvir Tanim, group lead for energy storage technology and a co-author of the paper. So, a driver could pull into an extreme fast charging station with drained batteries and be back on the road in as little as 10 to 15 minutes.

The research supports the Department of Energy’s efforts to advance extreme fast charging technology, which potentially offers an electric vehicle recharge comparable to the time it takes to fill a gasoline-powered car. INL scientists described their work in a recent paper published by the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Now, a new technique developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) researchers makes it easier to spot possible battery troubles earlier than ever before. Early detection and classification of battery aging during fast charging would benefit researchers studying how to improve batteries, battery makers, and eventually the public by helping to ensure batteries last and improving battery safety. The key word, though, is “can.” Batteries react differently to fast charging because of design, material and manufacturing variations. They wear out and eventually die, with operating conditions sometimes speeding up the process.įast charging could recharge an electric vehicle battery in minutes rather than hours, but doing so can rapidly age a battery. Lithium-ion batteries don’t last forever.

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